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25 December 2008

A few days ago, I visited a mall to buy something. The atmosphere was very rousing with Christmas decorations and I believe also occurs around the world. Producers take advantage of Christmas moment to compete and increase sales with tempting offers, such as: discount 20%, 30%, 40%, buy one get one, etc. Parents busy thinking about what the gift should be purchased, and children imagining of what the gift they will get. Many people calculate their money for the best holiday package. That's NOT wrong!

But... when the bell is ringing....
Before: Christmas is the birth of Savior!
Now: Santa, where is my gift?
Before: That is the beginning of the redemption of our sin.
Now: Let's be happy for welcoming Christmas and new year.
Before: Jesus has come in simplicity.
Now: Let's go holiday !

I'm just imagining the genuine spirit of why we celebrate Christmas has gone. And... in this opportunity, I want to tell you that the Christmas bell resounding the call to the soul to follow the star in the East and lead you to the Savior. Then... I wanna ask you, where is the genuine spirit of Christmas? Let back to the Bible!

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)

Merry Christmas to all of you, and hope the God willing to forgive our sin.

23 December 2008

Actually, I do not think to make this post. But at one night, suddenly I look at his photo and remembered all his kindness and beautiful memories when he was still with us. Today, December 23th 2008, exactly one year ago, my beloved brother, Rudiansyah Guyana, leave us forever. He was a kind-hearted man, helpful to others, a man who love his family, an independent person, hard worker, and always want to go forward to reach for his dreams in order to be success in life and marry using his own money.

I still remember when I was in hard conditions, he always gave genuine support. I never forget when I get married... he by sincerely gave some money to me by saying "For anything". Although a very little amount, but in sincerity I felt touched, moreover I knew he got it with very hard. And now... despite I'm a manager who have sizable income, I have no way to reply his kindness because he already went to the other world, forever. Feels like facing the door that was closed for me.

For my lifetime I never forget the moment when he lay dying in the hospital after the accident. At that time I thought of as mentioned in the Bible, Jesus raised the dead, so... I prayed by begging to Jesus to save my brother out of this critical situation. That was the deepest supplication in my life to prove His greatness. But He did not grant it.

No one can replace my brother. Like the Chinese proverb said: "Your parents is like your head, your brother/sister is like your arm, your spouse is like your clothes. There is NO former parent or former brother/sister in this world !!"

I let this post stay forever here as a remembrance for my beloved brother, with the hope, someday, while browsing on the internet, my children will find and read it, knowing the feeling of their father to their uncle. May God be willing to accept all the good deeds that he had done in this world, Amen!

Please also read an essay about mother and child. After read it, whether you still thinking to send your mother to the nursing home? CLICK HERE

13 December 2008

Have you ever heard about the end of the world (doomsday)? Let me share the list of human predictions against these issue. Unfortunately, all predictions are wrong. My friend ever said: "There are many faithful peoples in this world, and their prayer will prevent it"

Apart from the matter above, in this opportunity I only want to share a video that attracted my attention. The author only give the initials name as "fwywarrior".

This post also inspired by the global issue that we are facing now, such as global warming (climate change), ozone layer depletion (or ozone hole), several animals that was extinct, new disease that appear in human life in this century. Many scientists spend their time in effort to fight climate change. At least we also think to our own grandchildren. What can we do to help prevent Climate Change? Personally many things that we can do to appreciate the scientists effort. If you care about it, click here.Welcoming Christmas and Old & New 2008-2009, let us muse the future. Whether this earth has old enough to support our life?

02 December 2008

The first known case of HIV in Indonesia was in a foreign tourist in Bali in 1987, and now has reached a level that is very concerned. According to State Minister of Development Planning / Chairperson of the National Development Planning Agency (Indonesian : Menteri Negara Perencanaan Pembangunan/Kepala Bappenas), Paskah Suzetta, in 2004, AIDS cases are only found in 16 provinces, but at the end of the year 2007 the same case was found in 32 provinces in Indonesia.

Personally, I see there was a paradigm in eastern culture that should be overcome particularly the matters related to sexually transmitted disease, that is:

Shame if being infected by the HIV / AIDS because it was considered the venereal disease, therefore the sufferer tended to close himself.

Shame to be known had adulterous.

There was the opinion who said that the action of distributing condom was indirectly legalizing free sex.

Shame to meet doctor or carry out the blood test for the problem related to sexual.

Woman tend to succumb in the usage of contraception and men tend to be reluctant to use condom.

There are the embarrassed feeling if must buy a condom in a shop.

Paradigm above, according to me enough for impede the prevention of HIV / AIDS epidemic. Also to the people who infected by HIV / AIDS, I beg you not doing a revenge to spread your disease to other people. I will proudly salute if you willing to protect our fellow who is still healthy. I pray to the God to see your noble effort.